SANTA CLARA — Nick Bosa’s lingering pain in his right ankle kept him out of the 49ers practice Wednesday at Youngstown State, and it’s a sign his month-long injury could plague him throughout a highly anticipated rookie season.

“High-ankle sprains linger for a long time,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “When you get into games, usually you do stuff again and hopefully you can recover by Sunday.”

Shanahan said Bosa’s original Aug. 7 injury is a “little different” from the one that running back Matt Breida battled throughout last season.

Nick Bosa is not practicing as #49ers defensive line warms up here at Youngstown State. Ankle may be sore from debut; will update when more is known pic.twitter.com/qIy1vgUCSA

After that debut, Bosa said: “Definitely going to be sore but I’ll be fine. I’m getting my ankle back. Ankle sprains are something you have to work through a little pain at the beginning, but I’m happy I got through the whole game and started to pick it up at the end and got the win.”

This was the first of three consecutive days the 49ers are working out at Youngstown State, ahead of Sunday’s visit to the Cincinnati Bengals.

— Defensive back Jimmie Ward was limited in practice with a cast on his right hand, and his potential season-debut this Sunday could depend on pain tolerance, Shanahan said. Ward had surgery on a finger last week and did not play in the season opener. Tarvarius Moore started in his place at free safety, and Ward will need to show in practice he is a better option if he’s to reclaim that job but being limited probably doesn’t help that bid.

#49ers starting practice on Youngstown State’s soccer field rather than enclosed football stadium across streetDB Jimmie Ward in blue no-contact jersey with right hand/finger wrapped pic.twitter.com/xA2jq4EcEv

Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon not only came away from season opener with the football from his pick-six but also Bucs star Mike Evans’ jersey after an epic, postgame conversation.

Said Witherspoon: “He just told me I did a really good job. Honestly, I don’t know if I’m supposed to say this, but he was asking me if we knew the (Bucs) offense. I was like, ‘No, we’re just out here playing ball, man, but thanks for the compliment.’ It was crazy. I was like, ‘No, not at all.’ “

Witherspoon, however, was intent on shutting down Evans, who had only two receptions for 28 yards after battling the flu two days earlier. Evans keyed a Bucs rout last season. “Last year he said something to me after the game, he liked how I played,” Witherspoon. “This year I came in with the mentality to dominate him, and then take his jersey. It was pretty cool.”

SAMUEL PRAISED AMID LESSONS

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel, after starting in a rookie debut that had mixed results, responded well to coaches’ critiques, and that could further entrench him in the lineup.

“He’s really as good as anyone I’ve been around, just as a rookie. We’ll see how it goes,” Shanahan said. “You can be hard on him. He doesn’t make excuses. He works at it. And he definitely takes accountability and doesn’t mind you calling him out in front of the team. It’s important to him and he usually responds when you do it.”

The 49ers practiced on the artifical turf soccer field across the street from Youngstown State’s football stadium, which was booked for Penguins practices. Local police and team security kept students and the general public from watching 49ers practice and taking pictures.

“We’re thankful for them opening their facilities to us,” Witherspoon said. “Are owners are from here and we’re enjoying the entire experience and setpping up to the challenge of not being home and coming out Sunday playing at a high level.”

Added Jimmy Garoppolo: “Got some good Italian food lately. That’s been phenomenal. Got some good ice cream last night. That was fun. Youngstown’s been nothing but a good time.”